Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

winner

American  
[win-er] / ˈwɪn ər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that wins; victor.

    All three winners received plaques for their winning presentations.

    A yearling Teeswater sheep took the limelight yesterday when it was crowned the overall winner of the interbreed Wool on the Hoof competition.

  2. a person or thing that is marked by consistently or thoroughly excellent quality, performance, etc. (loser ).

    This brownie recipe is a real winner—I’ve made it countless times and it always turns out beautifully.

idioms

  1. winner take(s) all. winner take all

winner British  
/ ˈwɪnə /

noun

  1. a person or thing that wins

  2. informal a person or thing that seems sure to win or succeed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • nonwinner noun

Etymology

Origin of winner

A Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; win 1, -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The trainer of a horse which has equalled the UK racing record for longest-priced winner says he "never had a penny on" his winner.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

There has been one clear winner in those two transfers so far - Cherki will be aiming to serve another reminder on what Slot could have had.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

The winner of “The Masked Singer,” who is married to Evan Ross, Diana Ross’ singer-actor son, was bubbly as she celebrated her victory in a post-finale interview published Wednesday night.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

LyondellBasell Industries has been the index’s big winner of the Iran war, jumping 90% in the first quarter.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Ten toads total were racing for each team, and the first to reach the finish line would be the winner of the race.

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.